Sampling deer for CWD to continue

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks collected 64 tissue samples from deer last month to test for chronic wasting disease, and the results were received this week.

"Bottom line, the 64 that were collected on February 23 came back negative," said Russ Walsh, MDWFP Wildlife Executive Staff Officer.

The 64 deer were killed for sampling purposes within a 5-mile radius of where a deer that tested positive for CWD was found in Issaquena County earlier this year. MDWFP is sampling deer to determine the prevalence of CWD in the area. Tissue samples have also been taken from deer near the area that died of disease or as a result of collisions with vehicles.

"We're still waiting on test results from the diseased deer," Walsh said. "We sent off multiple samples from those and we're awaiting results from those."

Walsh explained that fresh tissue samples can be tested using a method that takes a few days to complete. For deer that were found dead, another method is used to test for CWD called immunohistochemistry, and it takes longer.

"It's just taking a little longer to get those results," Walsh said. "IHC is the gold standard of testing."

Chronic wasting disease is a contagious neurological disease that affects cervids. It is always fatal and is suspected to be passed from deer to deer through direct contact, feces, and urine. The CWD-positive deer found in Issaquena County is the first confirmed case in Mississippi.

The agency's response plan calls for sampling over 200 additional deer in the area. If no additional cases are found, Walsh said testing will continue to monitor the disease.